Best Degrees and Careers present and future ?

Some great responses guys, its really give me something to think about. I'm going to spend a few days reading through some degrees and work ideas.

Thanks a lot !
 
alx said:
I think the point was that employers like people with science degrees (at least that was my point) because of the maths and logical thinking involved.

You can go into all sorts of interesting jobs, many of which don't need a specific degree (more a certain skill set).

I may be biased but if you don't specifically into a job directly related to your degree, engineering > science degree
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Yeah, that's what I was trying to say. Head is not with it at all today.
Science and Engineering degrees give the graduate a long list of transferable skills which are in demand in all sorts of sectors not just the classic labs that you'd associate with a science degree.
I said earlier, that research science would be hard to get into and doesn't pay well but I don't think people would enter that field for the money; more for the love and passion of science/discovery.
 
For gods sake don't go and do a degree you don't enjoy. Identify something that interests you and work from there, nobody wants to be in a job they hate doing. The amount of people that dropped out during my first year was unreal. The group pretty much halved over the first 2 years.

As for areas of work, loads of management positions floating about at various companies at the moment. A lot of analyst grad schemes about too.
 
After screwing up my maths offer last year I'm doing Geosciences or Geophysics depending on where I go this year. Hopefully then go into oil/gas industry in some respect,, or possibly water quality or something like that. Sister earning very very good money out in brisbane with the water board... doing huge amounts of hours at the moment due to the floods :)
 
Jonny69 said:
They might let you in with a BTEC, but unless you're good with pure and mechanics maths you're going to struggle with an engineering degree, particularly something like mechanical engineering. Not meaning that as a dig, it's just a warning.
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I wasn't going to do that anyway, it would be either Electrical or Computer System Engineering.
 
Hxc said:
After screwing up my maths offer last year I'm doing Geosciences or Geophysics depending on where I go this year. Hopefully then go into oil/gas industry in some respect,, or possibly water quality or something like that. Sister earning very very good money out in brisbane with the water board... doing huge amounts of hours at the moment due to the floods :)
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Geosciences? Which part and where you thinking of going?

With a Geophysics degree you will have a very good chance over a standard geology grad in the O&G industry, they like them a lot because they are rather rare (probably due to the maths). Doesn't mean you won't find it very difficult to get a job though, but then in 3-4 years time the industry may have picked up a lot.

Either way don't bother going for an MSci, unless you want to get into research (PhD etc) or just spend an extra year in industry. Don't do one thinking it will open a lot more doors to you than a BSc (best bet is to go to careers fairs for the industry you want to get into and see what the representatives say, generally it's that they think they are generally pointless).:)
 
Amp34 said:
Geosciences? Which part and where you thinking of going?

With a Geophysics degree you will have a very good chance over a standard geology grad in the O&G industry, they like them a lot because they are rather rare (probably due to the maths). Doesn't mean you won't find it very difficult to get a job though, but then in 3-4 years time the industry may have picked up a lot.

Either way don't bother going for an MSci, unless you want to get into research (PhD etc) or just spend an extra year in industry. Don't do one thinking it will open a lot more doors to you than a BSc (best bet is to go to careers fairs for the industry you want to get into and see what the representatives say, generally it's that they think they are generally pointless).:)
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Geoscience is bristol if they give me an offer, course is "Environmental Geosciences", Geophysics is UEA (home choice, already got an unconditional).

Other choices are standard geography courses where I'd favour the physical side but I'd much rather go to for the Geoscience/Geophysics course, both BSc.
 
Accounting and even law is being outsourced heavily now, at least here.

In fact, why not start up an accounting outsourcing firm in India?
 
kwerk said:
Accounting and even law is being outsourced heavily now, at least here.

In fact, why not start up an accounting outsourcing firm in India?
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While a lot of compliance work is being outsourced, they need someone to review the comps coming back from India. In order to do that the consultants need to be trained. The consultancy work is then pushed down making the work more interesting for lower grades.
 
Hxc said:
Geoscience is bristol if they give me an offer, course is "Environmental Geosciences", Geophysics is UEA (home choice, already got an unconditional).

Other choices are standard geography courses where I'd favour the physical side but I'd much rather go to for the Geoscience/Geophysics course, both BSc.
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Ah ok, not sure how well that would position you for the oil industry though (a straight geology BSc would probably be better). It would probably be pretty good for water management though (mix of geography and geology pretty much AFAIK). Geography probably won't get you very far at all in the O&G industry, depending on what you were looking to do.:)
 
Nitefly said:
It's baffling to me that people are suggesting a science degree, most related jobs pay penuts and are hugely competitive. Law is well payed but brutally competitive at the moment, so niether really fit the criteria.
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Depends what science you get into. One of the 3 "pure" ones, straight Chem, Phys, Biology may be harder to get a well paying job, Geology or a more applied science can net you rather large sums quite easily.
 
0neand0nly I would say consider an apprenticeship. Especially with a large company where you have the scope to move around. I started mine with Ford 6 years ago. I was 18 with 11 GCSE's and 3 A levels, but I was the exception. The age ranged from 16 to 19, a mixture of fresh school leavers and some others that had been dossing about for a couple of years.

I wouldn't say motor manufacture is a secure sector to move into, but when ever they close down any sections at my work they just move the employees around into other jobs at least equal to their previous position.

Pay is reasonable when starting and increases every year until you are qualified. After the apprenticeship they offer an engineering degree course paid for by the company if you are good enough.

Friends in the year above me have moved into buying, costing and accountancy positions. I do get a shift premium, but my wages are roughly £38000 + overtime. And buyers/cost estimators etc. earn £35,500 which increases over 3 years to £39,500 doing regular 8am-4pm hours. It isn't mega money, but I would say it is a "good" wage as you can just enter as a school leaver.
 
[FnG]magnolia;18259784 said:
OP, I think you need to review your attitude before considering how you're going to get phat loot without really trying.
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Who said anything about not trying ? I'm happy to work hard, long hours and even start at the bottom but I don't want to choose a career path that sticks me in a dead end job that I don't enjoy. I can't afford to make bad choices, I'm 19 with no idea what path to get into, no goal or dream job I can work up to and need a good wage so I can get onto the property market with my gf.

So far this thread has been brilliant, its really give me the drive again and starting to work with some ideas ! Thanks a lot :) If anyone else is in a good job or degree/course please enlighten me as I still haven't decided yet !!?

milgo said:
0neand0nly I would say consider an apprenticeship. Especially with a large company where you have the scope to move around. I started mine with Ford 6 years ago. I was 18 with 11 GCSE's and 3 A levels, but I was the exception. The age ranged from 16 to 19, a mixture of fresh school leavers and some others that had been dossing about for a couple of years.

I wouldn't say motor manufacture is a secure sector to move into, but when ever they close down any sections at my work they just move the employees around into other jobs at least equal to their previous position.

Pay is reasonable when starting and increases every year until you are qualified. After the apprenticeship they offer an engineering degree course paid for by the company if you are good enough.

Friends in the year above me have moved into buying, costing and accountancy positions. I do get a shift premium, but my wages are roughly £38000 + overtime. And buyers/cost estimators etc. earn £35,500 which increases over 3 years to £39,500 doing regular 8am-4pm hours. It isn't mega money, but I would say it is a "good" wage as you can just enter as a school leaver.
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That sounds great, how can I apply or contact Ford ? I live in Rhondda, Wales so I'm guessing nearest place would be based in Cardiff ?
 
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